Samantha Montella is a self-taught fiber artist who creates shaped weaving with embroidery and needle felting. She specializes in home portraits that are inspired by books, fairy tales and fantasy worlds.
How did you get started making fiber art? Why did you choose that medium? Or, did it choose you?
I dabbled with weaving and embroidery as a hobby in my school days. It always appealed to me because I enjoy the slowness of the craft. Working with fiber forces me to be present and focus on the moment and that’s important to me.
What do you do differently? What is your signature that makes your work stand out as yours?
I create shaped weavings. I’m a self-taught artist and I try out any shape and form on the loom and see if it will work. I like to play around and I don’t like to stick to the rules. This has allowed me to create my style of weaving.
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I specialize mostly in woven home portraits and I add embroidery and needle felting to my pieces. I love anything whimsical or fantastical.
Do you plan your work out ahead of time, or do you just dive in with your materials and start playing?
I always plan out my work ahead of time. First, I’ll sketch my plan for the piece on my tablet, then I draw a large sketch on paper and hang it up on my loom to warp and weave in front of.
Having a plan helps me to stay motivated and focused for each project.
Describe your creative space.
My creative space is a cozy little room filled with all of my tools, supplies, and favorite things. I am an avid collector and I draw a lot of inspiration from the art that I surround myself with. From time to time, I like to rearrange my decor and collections to freshen up my space and refuel myself creatively.
Are you a “finisher”? How many UFOs do you think you have?
I am 100% a “finisher”. I don’t like to have unfinished work, it’s too distracting. I like to check things off of lists, it motivates me.
Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?
Books, fairy tales, fantasy worlds. Anything that feels like it’s out of the pages of a children’s book.
If you could do just one creative thing today, what would it be?
Start a new personal project that I have had planned for months. It’s a cross-stitch project, which is a craft that I’ve never tried before.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
I mix things up. I thrive with many different tasks, if I am doing too much of the same thing over and over again I tend to burn out rather quickly. I need to try new things and find ways to work new techniques and crafts into my work.
Do you think that creativity is part of human nature or is it something that must be nurtured and learned?
I think that we are all innately creative. That impulse is natural. Creativity is there for everyone and our connection to it can be nurtured and grown.
Where can people see your work?
My work can be seen on Instagram @meek.oak, on TikTok @meekoak, and my website www.meekoak.com. Always open to collaborate! I can be reached via email at hello@meekoak.com
Interview posted April 2024
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